Confirmation in Nagaoka

Last Sunday, the second Sunday of advent, 9 people received the sacrament of confirmation in Nagaoka city in Niigata prefecture. There are 2 parishes in Nagaoka across the JR railroad, one in Fukuzumi and the other in Omotemachi. Out of these 9 confirmed, one young lady was confirmed in Fukuzumi at 6:30 am. She had to take very important exam to enter a high school during the day and unable to join others for usual Sunday Mass. The morning Mass was attend by her family and more than 10 members who, after Mass, sat together for breakfast.

Then 8 people received the sacrament during 10:15 am Mass in Omotemachi. Parish priest, Fr. Bruno, an Italian Franciscan, and his assistant, Fr. Ferdi, a Filipino SVD, con celebrated with me. I was so happy to say Mass with so many small boys and girls trying hard to serve Mass as alter boys and girls. They did very well though each one did not have much to do since there are too many.

After the Mass at 1 pm, I had to drive down to Kamo city for blessing of a new kindergarten building. You might remember that I did the Groundbreaking ceremony for the construction on 28 April. The construction company, Shibata Kensetsu, did very good job and the director, Fr.Kamata and all the staff members of the KG were so happy. Congratulations for Kamo Shirayuri Kindergarten.

Then I flew to Sapporo on Sunday night to attend a meeting with priests working in the Sapporo diocese and also to be sworn in as the apostolic administrator during a ceremony on Monday morning in Sapporo Cathedral.